The state of music teacher training

[This article was written before the DfE announcement of music bursaries for 2024/25]

Much concern has been expressed recently concerning the consistent under-recruitment of secondary music teachers to initial teacher training courses. On one occasion only (2020/21) during the last 13 years has the DfE target for music teacher recruitment been met, despite this target often being reduced year on year. In 2008/9, 808 trainees registered for secondary music courses. In 2022/23, the figure was 301 against a target of 470. Provisional figures for 2023/24 suggest that position has worsened considerably and only 31% beginner teachers are likely to be recruited against an admittedly much higher target of 790 (DfE, 2023). Nonetheless, this would mean just 233 new secondary music teachers entering the profession in September 2024, 60 fewer than this year.